Posted on 08/18/2024 9:21:25 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
An opinion piece in The Hill posits that Democrats could spring the ultimate October surprise by making Kamala Harris president before the election in November.
Douglas MacKinnon notes that “This is already the most surreal presidential election of our lifetimes,” and that it could get even more bizarre.
He adds, “I wrote several times in this space over the last two years that I never believed Biden would be the nominee, and I was proven right. I also honestly believe Trump will pull away from Harris come September and October.”
“So, what then? How would the Democrats and the Harris campaign react to that?” MacKinnon wonders.
He suggests that “At some point, might it become politically expedient to the Democrats to elevate Harris to the presidency for the remainder of the campaign?” adding “Is anything off the table in this weird election cycle? I don’t think so.”
"Democrats still might invoke the 25th Amendment to make Harris president" (@TheHillOpinion) https://t.co/3dINPXUNy2 — The Hill (@thehill) August 17, 2024
As is well documented, Democrats could invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Biden from office. But at this point, it would be clearly a political move. Biden has not been running anything for three years anyway.
MacKinnon suggests the 25th may not even be needed, noting that Biden could even enter the Democratic National Convention and say “I’ve had it. I’m done. I am resigning from my office and going back to Delaware.”
It’s a bit far fetched, but who knows with the state of this election cycle.
I was assured that Joe was just fine, that he just wasn't up to serving four more years. Was that not true? — Richard DeCamp (@richdecamp) August 17, 2024
This is the October Surprise, but doubt it will work as intended. — Usually Right (@normouspenis) August 17, 2024
It's always about them and their insane need to keep power.
Joe has dementia It's not about the safety of the US and its citizens.
It's about making Kamala look good for the election.
These people are heartless obtuse monsters. — Miss Patriot (@MissPatriot17) August 17, 2024
That's more likely sooner than later.
Incumbent presidency.
Great tool and great ads.
Re-(s)elect President Kackle. — Ken Herzberg (@HerzbergKen) August 17, 2024
The coup is just not finished.
They have to fully disgrace themselves. — ☘️ERIC♎8️⃣ (@starside8) August 17, 2024
* * *
I have suggested several times this is going to happen, to give her extra credibility, to help her campaign. October surprise.
I thought they would have done it when Biden quit.
Biden would have to resign or die or be removed by impeachment for Harris to become president. Invoking the 25th would transfer powers to Harris as Acting President. Biden would still hold the office but not exercise the powers. Kind of the way it has been unofficially for quite a while.
Removing Biden before November is easier said than done.
To invoke the 25th Amendment and replace the President, it takes a majority of the principal officers of the executive departments (the Cabinet) or another body that Congress may designate, plus the Vice President.
Specifically:
The Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet (or the alternative body designated by Congress) must declare in writing to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office.
If the President contests this declaration, Congress must then decide the issue.
To remove the President from power, it requires a two-thirds vote of both chambers of Congress - the House of Representatives and the Senate.
So while members of Congress are involved in the final step if the President contests the declaration, the initial invocation comes from within the executive branch. The role of Congress is primarily in the potential vote to sustain the declaration if contested by the President.
TO be more specific....
The initial invocation of the 25th Amendment does not require a vote from Congress. It is initiated by the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet (or other body designated by Congress).
If the President does not contest this declaration, then no Congressional vote is needed at all. The Vice President would immediately assume the powers of Acting President.
Congress only becomes involved in voting if the President contests the declaration of their inability to serve.
EASIER SAID THAN DONE.
They wouldn’t have to enforce the 25th amendment. They could simply tell Joe he’s stepping down just as easily as they told him he’s not running again.
Democrats can do whatever they want. Who is going to stop them?
Biden also could just resign for “health reasons.” Then Harris becomes President.
Bill Clinton ended his presidency in disgrace. I’ve often wondered why he didn’t simply step down and let Al Gore take over the presidency. That one thing would have probably put Gore in the White House for eight years. But that one thing would have disgraced Clinton even more and he wasn’t about to do that.
Yup.
If Slow Joe got sick and died, Comrade Kamala would be a shoe-in.
You read it here first.
Can she replace Biden now instead of in January?
I Am Woman
Song by Helen Reddy
… You can bend but never break me
‘Cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
‘Cause you’ve deepened the conviction in my soul
But look how much I’ve gained
If I have to, I can face anything
I am strong
I am invincible
I am woman
They may let him die next time he has a medical emergency.
That would save them accusations of assassination and allow them to accomplish their goal of a president kamala.
Shudder……..
Sure. They, Democrats in DC deep state could help her 25 Biden OR Biden could stroke out (or be ‘revealed’ that he’s already stricken with something) and resign from office.
The BIG problem that entails is that it would be a pre-release version of the Que-mala Presidency movie that patrons get to see before voting. IOW, seeing an upcoming movie ad for an awful movie they’ll pan.
Democrats DO NOT WANT THAT right now. They want her voted in before we find out what she is, what she’ll do, etc. If that happens before November, she’d have to start doing some of the awful stuff she’s promising and won’t deliver.
Once again proving that Democrats are the greatest threat to American Democracy.
I read that Joe is so po’d at Pelosi et al that he and allies are going to somehow disrupt the convention - make it a battle not a coronation.
Of course they will.
The rats might “take care” of uncle Joe right before the election and blame it on Maga.
Points made earlier in the thread are germane: unless Crooked Joe dies or can be prevailed upon to resign voluntarily, it’s a non-starter. Removal from office against presidential wishes requires a 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress, and the odds of that happening are microscopic, especially this close to a general election. And Joe is most certainly not in a cooperative mood. He feels he was betrayed by his party, which he was. And he’s short a pardon for Hunter and neither he nor “Dr.” Jill trusts any promises along those lines from that party anymore. I sure as hell wouldn’t.
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